Move Over Thailand! Surprising Country Is Southeast Asia’s Most Visited Destination This Year
4 min readApparently, something was lost in the mix with all the talk of Thailand's White Lotus-driven tourism. To much surprise, another stunning country has overtaken them as Southeast Asia's most visited destination this year. Over the past few months, any Google search about Thailand has resulted in regurgitated articles about Koh Samui's grand resorts or Walton …
The post Move Over Thailand! Surprising Country Is Southeast Asia’s Most Visited Destination This Year appeared first on Travel Off Path.
Apparently, something was lost in the mix with all the talk of Thailand’s White Lotus-driven tourism.
To much surprise, another stunning country has overtaken them as Southeast Asia’s most visited destination this year.
Over the past few months, any Google search about Thailand has resulted in regurgitated articles about Koh Samui’s grand resorts or Walton Goggins’ hairline.
What’s far more interesting than Rick Hatchett, Baby Billy, or any celebrity gossip is how a global icon has been overtaken by a lesser-known country that, like Thailand, has no direct flights to the U.S.
Brimming with diversity as a multi-religious nation, affordability across the board, wondrous landmarks, thrilling excursions, and magnetizing culture, lies Malaysia.
Far more known of late as a digital nomad haven, the driving force of remote workers can’t solely be attributed to Malaysia’s rise, can it?
Malaysia Has Welcomed Over 10 Million Visitors This Year
The first quarter of 2025 is long gone, so the question is, can Malaysia keep up the surge of tourists?
10.1 million travelers crossed Malaysia’s border in the first 3 months, which is literally a key distinction.
I happen to live 10 minutes from the Mexico border.
Am I counted as an official visitor if I make a cheap taco run? I’d imagine so.
Malaysia is similar in that people from neighboring countries, such as notoriously strict Singapore cross borders for cheap goods and lax laws compared to in comparison to their ritzy island. Thai citizens themselves often cross too, simply enjoying different cultural aspects and astounding attractions.
In fact, keep an eye out for a historic new train route set to connect Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur soon.
Of course, not all of Malaysia’s visitors cross at the border. Capital city Kuala Lumpur is a major hub for Asia, but like I said, there’s unfortunately no direct flights from the U.S.
But you can easily reach Malaysia with just one connection. As you may know, countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Turkiye offer free stopovers (with fine print, of course).
Is There Anything Fun To Do Here? Or Is It Just Cheap?
On a recent podcast of This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, guest and Malaysian born comedian Nigel Ng were discussing life in Malaysia, where Ng caught my attention essentially claiming ‘there’s nothing to do in Malaysia’.
Circling back to digital nomads, Malaysia has become a hotspot for cheap living for those of us lucky enough to get away with that freeing lifestyle of waking up wherever you please with your laptop, whether it be Kuala Lumpur’s trendy cafes, rooftops, and co-working spaces or the rise of Penang for those very reasons as well, plus beautiful shores.
Beyond savings, is there really anything to do in this country?
A resounding YES!
Let’s start with what has drawn travelers to the aforementioned Penang, or more specifically, UNESCO-recognized George Town.
Here you’ll find an array of street food vendors, vibrant markets, and the Penang Hill outlook, reachable by tram for unmatched views.
Like Thailand, Malaysia is full of jaw-dropping temples. Most notable in Penang is Kek Lok Si, and of course, as promised, there are beautiful beaches, such as Pantai Pasir Panjang on the opposite side of George Town.
How’s that for ‘nothing to do’? We’re just getting started!
As for Kuala Lumpur, a place you’re almost guaranteed to visit, is illuminated with staggering architecture, luxe rooftop pools, and most notably the Batu Caves, a massive limestone cave system housing an impressive Hindu temple and a famous golden statue.
The city is the textbook definition of a metropolis and one of Asia’s most diverse cities, where you can experience a mix of cultures, beliefs, and traditions through even more temples and endless markets.
For Malaysia’s true hidden gems, though, you may want to venture off to lesser-known islands, such as Borneo, which feels truly untouched and receives far less tourism, or perhaps Malaysia’s trendiest island of its 800+ paradises, Sabah.
Don’t Fear The Crowds! Thailand Will Surely Make A Comeback
Malaysia may be having a moment, but it’s not like Thailand is far behind with 9.55 million visitors.
Of course, another key factor in Malaysia’s edge over Thailand is its shift in visa policies, which have been far more relaxed than in previous years. Thailand has drastically reduced the window during which travelers are allowed to stay.
With Thailand’s “high season” at the end of the year, it will be better to compare apples to apples, or should we say Pad see ew to Nasi lemak?
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
